Picture this: you've sold your home, signed at the notary, handed over the keys with a smile — and three months later, you receive a legal notice because the buyer just discovered water damage you knew about for years.

Not fun at all.

That's exactly why the seller's declaration exists in Quebec — and why the Real Estate Brokerage Act makes it mandatory. Yet it's a document many sellers rush through without really understanding what they're attesting to.

And there's another reason to pay close attention right now: OACIQ (Quebec's self-regulatory real estate body) updated several mandatory forms as of August 24, 2026, including the seller's declaration form for condominiums. So now is the perfect time to review this essential document — and what's changed.

What Is the Seller's Declaration?

In the industry, we often call it the "property's resume" — and that's an excellent way to describe it.

It's an official form regulated by OACIQ (Organisme d'autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec) that every seller working with a real estate broker must complete when selling a residential property with fewer than five units.

This document collects important information about your property's condition and history: renovations performed, past or current problems, the condition of mechanical systems, water infiltration history, known environmental issues, and more.

It's not a simple administrative formality. It's a legal document, attached to your brokerage contract, that must be signed before listing your property — and ideally, before even signing the brokerage contract itself.

Two Reasons Why It's So Important

1. It Protects the Buyer

The declaration allows the buyer to make an informed decision before submitting an offer. They know the property's condition, what's been repaired, what problems are known. This is transparency at the heart of the transaction.

2. It Protects You, the Seller

By honestly declaring known problems, you reduce your liability regarding warranty of quality. Concretely: if you declared basement water infiltration — even if repaired — and the buyer proceeded with the purchase anyway, they can't come back against you after the sale for that same issue.

In other words: an honest seller who completes their declaration correctly sleeps much better at night.

What You Must Declare — The Main Categories

The seller's declaration covers several essential aspects of your property:

Structure: foundation, walls, floors, roof, garages and basement
Mechanical systems: plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, water heater
Problem history: water infiltration, sewer backups, mold, past damage
Renovations and work: what's been done, by whom, with or without building permits
Environmental issues: presence of heating oil, tanks, known contamination
Condition of equipment included in the sale

Note: There are two versions of the form. One for single-family homes and buildings with fewer than five units, and another for condominiums (divided co-ownership). Make sure your broker uses the correct form for your property type.

What Changed Since August 24, 2026

OACIQ implemented revised versions of several mandatory brokerage forms, specifically:

The Schedule R – Residential Property (AR)
The Seller Declarations on the Property – Condominium form (DVD)
The Schedule DR – Disbursements and Remuneration (DR)

What you need to remember:

If your brokerage contract was signed before August 24, 2026 with the old versions, those versions remain valid.
If you sign on or after August 24, 2026, the new versions of the forms apply.

This is one reason working with a broker who stays informed about regulatory changes makes a real difference. Your broker is required to use the current forms — and if they don't, that's a red flag.

Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid

Even well-intentioned sellers sometimes make mistakes on their declaration. Here are the most common ones we see:

Omitting a problem "because it's been fixed": if you had water infiltration — even repaired five years ago — you must declare it. History matters.
Not mentioning whether work was done with permits: the buyer and their bank need to know if renovations were done properly.
Signing without really reading: it seems obvious, but many sellers sign quickly without taking time to understand what they're attesting to.
Thinking the declaration replaces an inspection: these are two separate documents. The declaration is what you know; the pre-purchase inspection is what a professional inspector discovers. Both are necessary and complementary.

Your Broker's Role in All This

A good broker doesn't just hand you the form and say "sign here." They complete it with you, section by section, make sure nothing important is missed, and explain the legal implications of each answer.

This is an integral part of brokerage work — and it's an area where experience and honesty make all the difference.

With the Céré Thibert Team, we take time to review each point with our seller clients. Our approach is complete transparency — because a well-executed sale is a sale with no surprises after the keys are handed over.

Ready to Sell Your Home in Outaouais or the Laurentians?

Before listing your property, take a few minutes to check in with us. We'll explain your property's value according to today's market, the steps ahead, and how we guide you through every document — including the seller's declaration.

No commitment. No pressure. Just an honest conversation.

👉 Book your free Zoom consultation

Seller Declaration in Quebec: What Every Property Owner Should Know Before Selling in 2026